West African College of Physicians (Nigeria chapter) has expressed concern that the country may not achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Vice president and chairman, Dr. Jarmia Madaki, disclosed this while speaking at a press conference marking closing ceremony of the institution’s 47th Annual Meeting, held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
Madaki lamented that many state governments do not allocate 15 per cent of their yearly budget to health, as stated in the Abuja Declaration.
“We have looked at the 2030 SDGs and we believe and say that we are not doing well as a country. Government has the ability to meet that target but the problem is whether it is ready to mobilise political will; ability to deploy resources and allocation.
“For instance, look at what government allocated in the budget. We found that the Abuja Declaration stipulated that the government commit, at least, 15 per cent of its budget to health. The best we have seen is not more than five per cent,” he said.
Madaki said, while Nigeria has recorded some achievements, more needs to be done. According to him, “We still see some diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDs, which are still ravaging and killing our people. The government needs to double efforts in these areas, to reduce morbidity and mortality rate.”
The chairman noted that over 80 Nigerian physicians converged on Bauchi for the yearly meeting and discussed issues of healthcare delivery, stressing that the institution’s mandate is to train others to become medical consultants.
Following its deliberations, the College urged government to stop brain drain in the health sector. Madaki added: “Issues of welfare, security and a suitable working environment are important to practitioners. These are factors driving them abroad. If government can fix all these, we will end the brain drain.”
